People considering getting their degree in the arts often worry it will slow down their career trajectory or cost too much money. Even though some famous artists—like Taylor Swift—didn’t go to college, plenty of them—like Lana Del Ray—did, and it has helped them with their careers tremendously. College could play an important role in your musical development. Learn more about the types of programs available to you and the benefits of pursuing a Music degree to help further your career.
Types of Music degrees
While you could get just a general degree in Music, you’re not stuck on a single path. There are many myths about pursuing a degree in the arts, and this is one of them! You can specialize in your passion based on which school or program you choose. You can enroll in a traditional Music program at a liberal arts college or university or pursue courses through a program like 1500 Sound Academy, a professional music school in Los Angeles. The path you choose is totally up to you depending on your preferences and goals. In addition to a Bachelor of Arts in Music, here are a few other music-related degrees you’ll find at many traditional colleges that may interest you:
- Bachelor of Music in Performance
- Bachelor of Arts in Music Therapy
- Bachelor of Music in Composition
- Bachelor of Science in Music Education
Related: Colleges for Specialized Music Interests
5 benefits to studying Music in college
You might start out your university career thinking you’re interested in singing and songwriting only to later find out you actually love conducting therapy through music or prefer sound engineering behind the scenes. Pursuing any one of these kinds of programs has many benefits, including the following.
1. Studying what you love
Are you ready to study music day in and day out? Earning your Music degree will allow you to learn your craft while developing your education and expanding your knowledge. You’ll have the chance to improve your techniques and skills while also learning about the theory behind the notes. If you feel like you’re lacking in any aspect of music performance, receiving music education at an organized school can provide you with a stronger background in your chosen art form.
2. Learning about more than just your instrument
Whether your instrument is your voice, a guitar, or something else entirely, enrolling in a Music program will provide you the opportunity to practice and perfect your skills—that’s obvious. However, that’s not all you’ll get with a music education. There’s a lot of breadth to programs at a traditional university, including music history, music theory, software engineering, and an overview of the modern music industry that often layers in business learning. Some courses even teach you how to write music and how to write about music so you can pursue other careers as well. The more skills you build through higher education, the more career paths you can explore.
Related: Get Real! Myths and Advice About Arts Majors and Careers
3. Opening up more career opportunities
Not everyone who’s passionate about music wants to be a performer. Some people just want to compose, produce, or write for others, while others want to advise about music for movies and video games. Whether you want to compose music for traditional music boxes, DJ at clubs around the world, conduct a philharmonic orchestra or write about music as a journalist, a solid first step is a degree from a university that offers Music majors and programs.
4. Building your confidence
Some people desperately want to pursue their passions, but they don’t have the confidence to get up on stage or even share their work with others. When you attend college for Music, you’ll surround yourself with like-minded students and teachers who are all there to support you and encourage you to thrive. Leave the nonbelievers and negativity behind; college is a space that encourages passion, self-expression, and risk-taking. You’ll find yourself on stage, singing or playing your heart out in no time! (If that’s what you want—building confidence is important for behind-the-scenes work too!)
5. Expanding your network
College is a great place to learn and grow on an individual level, but it’s also the perfect place to meet people and build your network for the future. You might be attending classes with the next big music producer or conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic! Going to college and attending the same classes offers you the opportunity to bond with people who may be important to your life and future career. You should also take time to participate in clubs and activities to further help you meet people in the music world both on and off campus.
Related: How to Use Your College Network to Land a Job
Is a Music degree worth it?
There are always those who believe getting out and doing the thing is more valuable than expanding your education first, but this list shows you that getting your Music degree can be incredibly beneficial to your personal development and professional ambitions. Finding the right program can help you meet others on the same path and show you a whole new world of opportunity. So take a minute to explore your options and see if this has changed your tune about college.
Find great programs to take your music career to the next level with our College Search tool.
